Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

WMU’s electric vehicle charging capabilities are the new standard for campuses nationwide. In February 2012, 15 new electric vehicle charging stations and a 50kW solar photovoltaic array opened near the Miller parking deck. The project was funded through a $700k Department of Energy grant administered by the Clean Energy Coalition, which also offset the cost of five all-electric Ford/Azure Dynamics Transit Connect work-vans and a hybrid-hydraulic bucket truck.

The solar photovoltaic array (solar panels):

• Generate enough energy annually to run about 5.6 average U.S. homes
• Generate enough energy each day, on average, to fully charge approximately 11 Chevrolet Volts, 7 Nissan Leafs, or 6 Azure Ford Battery Electric Transit Connects

Electric vehicle charging stations:

• Are available to anyone at no cost and operate 24/7
• Are compatible with all electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
• Include 110V connectivity at select locations

Benefits and opportunities – the system:

• Encourages the purchase and use of electric vehicles by providing access to charging infrastructure 
• Supports WMU’s growing electric vehicle fleet 
• Stores excess nighttime WMU-generated power in vehicle batteries for later use on campus Offsets an estimated 142,720 pounds of carbon dioxide annually
• Supports research and provides real-time data online